The Co-Cathedral of the Nativity of the BVM in Żywiec is one of the finest Gothic-Renaissance churches in the Polish Beskids — a magnificent 15th-century building that grew alongside the town over the centuries and shelters an extraordinary collection of sacred art. The sight of its square tower, crowned with a distinctive helmet-shaped spire and an arcaded gallery, is simply unforgettable. This is an unmissable stop for anyone visiting Żywiec.

The church stands in the very heart of Żywiec, with its 60-metre tower dominating the skyline. The atmosphere inside is special in every season — in summer, the cool interior invites you to admire splendid polychromes and Baroque choir stalls; in autumn, falling leaves frame the Gothic silhouette beautifully; in winter, the church looks like a scene from an old engraving. The surroundings feature Baroque stone sculptures, including a figure of the Madonna dating from 1755.

• Żywiec town centre — the church is in the very centre, about 10 minutes on foot from the train and bus stations, difficulty: easy
• Old Town car park — a few minutes' walk from the church

• The church serves as a co-cathedral of the Diocese of Bielsko-Żywiec — services may be in progress during your visit
• Do not miss the late-Gothic relief of the Dormition of the Virgin (c. 1500) in the left side altar
• The Habsburg Chapel contains the tomb of Archduke Karl Stefan Habsburg and members of his family
• The 24-stop pipe organ dates from 1933, housed in its original 1714 case

An interesting fact — in 1945 the tower was struck by an artillery shell, yet the arcaded gallery commissioned in the 16th century by Jan Spytek Komorowski survived intact. Look closely at the tower walls and you will spot cannonballs from the Swedish Deluge embedded in the masonry!